The people of Koluama
1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa have launched a manhunt for
those behind the false report that an oil facility in the area was
attacked on Friday.
A group 'Koluama Seven
Brothers' had on Sunday claimed that it blew up a pipeline operated by Conoil
in Koluama citing failure of the company to address issues like MoU,
scholarships, and jobs among others.
Reactions from
community people, military sources have revealed that the claim was a hoax by a
group seeking attention.
Mr. Sese Lloyd, who
hails the area and the chairman, Maritime Workers Union in Bayelsa said on
Tuesday that the people had launched a manhunt for those behind the false
report.
He said that the false
report had portrayed the community in bad light and sent wrong signals the
world, investors as well as the international oil market saying that the
masterminds of the fake news must be made to face the law.
"The report of an
attack on Conoil facility in Koluama is not true. It is blackmail by faceless
groups for selfish material gains and we cannot afford to succumb to that.
“The area has been
peaceful and there was no such incident. I have communicated with the company
there was nothing of such.
"There was no
such incident, like that, if it happened I should have known, I have made
contact with my people back home and there is nothing, it is fake news."
"We are looking
for the miscreants behind the false claim. As I speak with you the area is
peaceful.
Maj. Ibrahim
Abdullahi, Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta
had said on Sunday that the claim of attack at Koluama oil field was false.
Abdullahi described the reports as a hoax and the handiwork of mischief makers aimed at misinforming the public, adding that the joint force was carrying out frequent patrols to secure oil facilities from attack.
“After exhaustive verifications following enquiries from media practitioners, we found out that no such incident happened.
“We enjoin the media to crosscheck their facts before rushing to the press to avoid publishing falsehood such as this report,” Abdullahi said.
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